Fence-post



(No Model.)

H. J. HOWSER. FENCE POST.

'No. 429,627. Patented June 10; 1890.

, 1 I flttorney.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. IIOIVSER, OF DAILEY, MICHIGAN.

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,627, dated June 10, 1890.

Application filed March 8, 1890. Serial No. 348,188. (No model.)

To (all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HENRY J. HOWSER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dailey, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in metallic fence-posts adapted for wire or board rails, in which a two-part post is formed of a base and an upright portion consisting of two parallel metal bars attached at their lower ends to the base. The upright bars, which form the upper portion of the post, are provided with notches in their edge, in which the wires of the fence lie, and which are held therein by a binding or truss wire secured to the top and base of the post, all of which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and the essential features of the device pointed out particularly in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the specification, Figure 1 is a view showing myim proved post supporting barbedwire rails. Fig. 2 is a View of the back face of Fig. 1, showing the base broken away. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the post. Fig. 4 is a view' showing the application of my improved post for supporting woven-wire fencing. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the wedge employed to secure the binding or truss wire and give it the desired amount of tension.

Referring to the letters of reference, A indicates the base of the post, which may be of cast metal. Said base is bell-shaped and 1101- low, so as to be light, and provided with the shank f, formed integral with the upper end thereof. Said base is located below the surface of the ground and affordsafirm anchorage for the post. The bars B B compose the portion of the post above the ground, and are formed (preferably) of a continuousbar. of metal of suflicientsize to afford the strength required. Said bar is bent at its longitudinal center, and its ends secured to the shank f of the base by means of the bolts or rivets s. The outer edges of the bars B are provided with a series of grooves or notches a, in which the wires 0 of the fence are adapted to lie, and are securelyheld therein by the binding or truss wire 2, one end of said wire being fastened to the top of the post by passing it through a hole in said post and twisting it around itself, as shown at 1 The lower end of said wire is passed through the hole 1) in the shank f of the base, and secured therein by means of the plug or wedge b, that is driven into said hole. The end 0 of the wire tis bent up over the end of the wedge 19, as clearly shown in Fig. 3, whereby said wedge is prevented from working out.

The binding-wire t crosses the outer face of the horizontal wires 0 of the fence on a line with the opening between the uprights B, and at its center is drawn through the space D between the uprights, and secured bydriving the wedge 0 between said wire 25 and the back edge of the uprights B, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

By driving the wedge 0 sufficient tension may be exerted on the wire t to securely retain the wires 0 of the fence in the notches a of the post and take up all slack of said wires. The wedge O is provided with the transverse groove 6, (see Fig. 5,) in which the wire t is adapted to lie, whereby said wedge is retained in place.

In using my improved post for a board fence the notches a in the edges of the uprights B B are made long enough to receive the width of the boards, and the boards se-- cured therein by the binding or truss wire t and wedge O-in the same manner as the wire fence before described.

In attaching woven-wire fencing to this post the truss-wire t passes over the woven fabric, as shown in Fig. 4E, and at the point of insertion of the wedge C the truss-wire t is passed through the space D between the uprights of the post, and the wedge is inserted in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 3, thus securely, cheaply, and effectually uniting the parts. All of the wires 0 may be readily let down onto the ground by removing the wedge G from two or more posts, which lowering of the Wires will allow driving over the wires where a passage is desired at a point where there is no gate in the fence.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The fence-post consisting-of the base-section, the top section having an opening throughout its length and notches along its outer face, combined with the truss-wire having its ends attached to the post, as set forth, the central portion of the truss-wire passing through the space between the uprights, the wedge crossing the post and engaging with the truss-wire, substantially as specified.

2. In combination with the base, the up- 

